All-Star Extravaganza Fallout
In a very shocking turn of events, Jay Briscoe upset Michael Elgin for the ROH title at Saturday's big show in Toronto. I call it an upset because Elgin has been destined for the championship since his big breakout during Wrestlemania weekend in 2012. They may have waited too long to put the belt on him, but at least they finally did, and presumably would let him run with it. Or so we thought.
My first thought (aside from "Why have him lose?") was "Why Briscoe?" He's a tag team guy. That's what he's known for. Yes, he's a former champion, but that didn't exactly work out so well for ROH the first time now did it?
I naturally needed more info, and started scouring the web for reasons why they would prematurely end the reign of their "golden boy." The first story indicates that Elgin had been interviewed recently saying he would like to try his hand in professional baseball. That's interesting to say the least. Somewhat similar to when Brock wanted out to play football over 10 years ago. Needless to say, ROH management wasn't really happy that their champion was saying he wants to try a new sport in the immediate future.
Other stories included his lack of "heat" as champion. I don't follow ROH closely enough week to week to know if this is actually true. So I won't claim it's validity one way or the other. If it is true, that does make me sad because like I mentioned earlier, the fans had been clamoring for this for a over two years now. Too little too late? Or, is Elgin just not what we initially thought he was?
The final and most likely reason for the switch was Elgin was having visa issues. Since he is Canadian, and ROH is in the US 95% of the time, that obviously would cause serious issues. Fortunately the show was in Toronto so he would have had no issues making it there, but on the other hand, having the hometown boy lose the strap can't be that good for business can it?
Which brings me back to Jay. If this visa issue is factual, they would have needed to get the belt off Elgin ASAP. I'm assuming they would have already had this match booked when the visa issues were brought up, and let's be honest, Jay isn't going anywhere. They can put the belt on him. (He was in the very first ROH match of the very first ROH show. And besides 2005, he has been a staple along with his brother every year of the promotion's existence.) His mouth may get him in trouble, but he will do what's right by the company. I still don't like a predominately tag team competitor as champion, but I guess it was the lesser of two evils. Had this big match been against a "lesser" foe, (which ROH does at times to create fresh matches) I wonder how this would have been handled? Or, if they could have moved up or stalled the title switch. The best bet may have been just a stripping of the championship... kind of like they did to Briscoe last summer.
This win makes Jay Briscoe the second ever two-time ROH champion, behind Austin Aries. But let's be honest, the ROH title reigns aren't nearly as impressive (or didn't feel as such) since probably Nigel's reign many moons ago. (Aries' second reign may be the exception to that.)
In somewhat similar news, ACH apparently missed his flight to the show, and also has management breathing down his neck. I've read a lot of bad things about ACH and his immaturity, but I know better to put all my stock into the Internet "news." If it is true, is this the final nail in his coffin?
Interesting stuff for sure, and time will tell how it all plays out. Will Briscoe be a transitional champion? Say, holding it for a Ciampa switch? Or, will he get his long reign that was taken from him last year? Is Elgin done in ROH, or at least on the back-burner for a while? Either way would create some huge opportunities for someone. Stay tuned.
My first thought (aside from "Why have him lose?") was "Why Briscoe?" He's a tag team guy. That's what he's known for. Yes, he's a former champion, but that didn't exactly work out so well for ROH the first time now did it?
I naturally needed more info, and started scouring the web for reasons why they would prematurely end the reign of their "golden boy." The first story indicates that Elgin had been interviewed recently saying he would like to try his hand in professional baseball. That's interesting to say the least. Somewhat similar to when Brock wanted out to play football over 10 years ago. Needless to say, ROH management wasn't really happy that their champion was saying he wants to try a new sport in the immediate future.
Other stories included his lack of "heat" as champion. I don't follow ROH closely enough week to week to know if this is actually true. So I won't claim it's validity one way or the other. If it is true, that does make me sad because like I mentioned earlier, the fans had been clamoring for this for a over two years now. Too little too late? Or, is Elgin just not what we initially thought he was?
The final and most likely reason for the switch was Elgin was having visa issues. Since he is Canadian, and ROH is in the US 95% of the time, that obviously would cause serious issues. Fortunately the show was in Toronto so he would have had no issues making it there, but on the other hand, having the hometown boy lose the strap can't be that good for business can it?
Which brings me back to Jay. If this visa issue is factual, they would have needed to get the belt off Elgin ASAP. I'm assuming they would have already had this match booked when the visa issues were brought up, and let's be honest, Jay isn't going anywhere. They can put the belt on him. (He was in the very first ROH match of the very first ROH show. And besides 2005, he has been a staple along with his brother every year of the promotion's existence.) His mouth may get him in trouble, but he will do what's right by the company. I still don't like a predominately tag team competitor as champion, but I guess it was the lesser of two evils. Had this big match been against a "lesser" foe, (which ROH does at times to create fresh matches) I wonder how this would have been handled? Or, if they could have moved up or stalled the title switch. The best bet may have been just a stripping of the championship... kind of like they did to Briscoe last summer.
This win makes Jay Briscoe the second ever two-time ROH champion, behind Austin Aries. But let's be honest, the ROH title reigns aren't nearly as impressive (or didn't feel as such) since probably Nigel's reign many moons ago. (Aries' second reign may be the exception to that.)
In somewhat similar news, ACH apparently missed his flight to the show, and also has management breathing down his neck. I've read a lot of bad things about ACH and his immaturity, but I know better to put all my stock into the Internet "news." If it is true, is this the final nail in his coffin?
Interesting stuff for sure, and time will tell how it all plays out. Will Briscoe be a transitional champion? Say, holding it for a Ciampa switch? Or, will he get his long reign that was taken from him last year? Is Elgin done in ROH, or at least on the back-burner for a while? Either way would create some huge opportunities for someone. Stay tuned.
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